The 2024 Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) has an addition to include a benefit to pet owners. The Defense Travel Management Office, or TMO, updates the JTR annually. This year includes a win for pet owners. Their furry family members are now specifically mentioned in the JTR with a reimbursement for the costs related to moving with the military.
The 37 U.S.C. 453 was amended in June of 2023 and specifically authorizes “reimbursement of costs related to the relocation of a pet that arise during a permanent change of station (PCS). Under this new policy, a Uniformed Service member may be authorized reimbursement of up to $550 for a PCS within the continental United States and up to $2,000 for a PCS to or from a location outside the continental United States to cover expenses directly related to pet transportation, such as pet shipping and quarantine fees.” The amendment became effective January 1, 2024. The amendment comes from section 624 of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
This inclusion is a win for pet-owning military families. PCSing with pets has long been an added expense. Providing reimbursement lessens the financial burden of PCSing with their furry family members, especially for those military families moving to OCONUS who have to pay for pet travel and quarantine their pets when moving to the new country. The cost of moving OCONUS can easily exceed the $2,000 reimbursement, with some families paying upwards of $5,000.
Prior to the inclusion of pets in the NDAA, each military service branch has slowly been addressing this issue. The US Army stated in December of 2022 that the pet reimbursement would take place 180 days from the signing of the NDAA – which was January 1, 2024, since the amendment occurred in June of 2023. The Marine Corps made an official statement about the NDAA, noting they would begin reimbursement on January 1, 2024, noting that no retroactive reimbursement would occur.
Military branch aid societies have been spanning the gap for pet reimbursement for years. Per the Army Emergency Relief and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, an average of $3,000 was loaned to each client. The Air Force Aid Society reported an average amount per client of $1,000.
While the reimbursement will likely not cover the total costs of moving pets for all military members, it is a step toward supporting military families. The furry family member is a member of the family, a support to family members when the service member is away, and a support to the active-duty service member. The burden of frequent moves with high costs is a financial drain, and the reimbursement will lessen that financial burden.
Have you utilized the pet reimbursement in 2024? How was the process? Let us know!
